Driscolls

Driscolls
People
Written by Christina Wofford
Sunday, 14 November 2010 15:12
My mother,Mary Elizabeth Driscoll Centola was also born at 6 Ellen Street and met my Yankee father, Ralph Quinn Centola, during WW II, when he was stationed at Peterborough. He was an enlisted soldier in the Army Air Corps who used to load the bombs on the planes at the airfield.

Mom (Mam!) was a clerk-typist in the WAAF stationed in London and met him at a museum, while strolling with a friend. They dated for about a year, and went through all kinds of paperwork in triplicate to get permission to marry. How ironic that my 1st generation father, who spoke Italian at home until he went to school, would find a Catholic wife in Wales! They were married at St. Paul’s on Nov. 4,1944. Mom was released from the service after she became pregnant with me. Dad was sent back to the States before I was born on Dec. 7,1945.

I was christened at St. Paul’s and have the original baptismal certificate. My mother’s family: Cornelius and Mary Jane Bailey Driscoll, Flurence, Helen (Nell), Mary, Cornelius (Con) and Catherine Patricia (Kitty). Granddad died before my 2nd birthday. Nana, Uncle Flur, Uncle Con and Mom (1983) have also passed away, as well as my father (1997).

Dad sent our whole family to visit in 1954 and 1960 and also arranged for Nana Driscoll to come to Boston, Massachusetts and Meriden, Connecticut for visits. Nana, Aunty Kitty and son Les came to my wedding on June 8, 1968 in Meriden. My license plate here in the state of Ohio reads: CYMRIC (my first choice, CYMRU, was already taken - in fact, one day I was driving behind the car with that license plate!).

I’m very proud of my heritage and am thrilled to learn of your website, which I shall pass on to the rest of my siblings: Ralph Philip Centola, Glenn Stephen Centola and Philip John Centola. Ralph lives in Farmington, Connecticut, Glann lives in Meriden, Connecticut, and Philip lives in Long Beach, California. I shall send them your website address.

Christina Wofford, Cincinnnati, Ohio

Peerles Jim Driscoll People Written by Mary Sunday, 14 November 2010 15:21 Peerless' Jim Driscoll was without doubt Newtown's most famous son and Sporting hero, was a Welsh boxer who learned his trade in the boxing ring and used it to fight his way out of poverty Driscoll gained fame for winning the coveted Lonsdale belt in 1910.

Jim never forgot his roots; he was a faithful supporter of his church, remained close to his community, and had great affection for the Nazareth House Orphanage, for whom he once gave up the chance of becoming Featherweight Champion of the World. After claiming the British featherweight title he went to prove himself in the U.S.. American boxing fans of the era favoured all-action boxers, but they were won over by the Cardiffian's skills, giving him the nickname 'Peerless Jim.' (Another common nickname for him was "Jem," and in his home town he was affectionately called "The Prince of Wales.")

Featherweight champion Abe Attell faced Driscoll in 1910; the Welshman dominated the fight, but with the "no decision" rule in place, without a KO he couldn't take the crown. Driscoll declined a rematch in order to attend a mass with Monks saying: "I never break a promise." Driscoll's boxing career was interrupted by World War I, where he was recruited as a physical training advisor. In succeeding years, he continued to box despite failing health, relying on his skills to keep him out of trouble. When he died in Cardiff of consumption at the age of 44, over 100,000 people lined the streets for his funeral.

He is buried at Cathays Cemetery in Cardiff, Wales, where fresh daffodils always adorn his grave. A statue was erected in his honour near the Central Boys' Club, where he trained, in 1997. Driscoll's final official record is 58-3-6, with 39 KO's, however due to the scoring practices of the time, that yields 6 no-contest bouts on his record. Newspapers used to announce a winner in no-contest bouts, and taking that into account, his true record is 63-4-6 with 39 KO's.

Are You a Driscoll ?
People
Written by Brian Mead
Monday, 15 November 2010 09:36

ARE YOU A DRISCOLL?

My Grandmother Helen Mead nee Driscoll came from Newtown,met and married my Grandfather who at that time lived and worked in Radyr for the Bute Estate.Both families,the Meads and Driscolls originated from County Cork.All of John Meads Ancestors came from Kinsale and the surounding area. During the 1930s my Driscoll relatives ran the Pontcanna Farm then part of the Bute Estate,years later to become HTV Television Studios.

My cousins still have the Butchers Shop on the corner of Cathedral Road opposite Llandaff Fields. As a child living those days in Llandaff North my uncles would drive us in a pony and trap from the Colledge Road entrance to the Pontcanna Estate down a chestnut tree Avenue to the Farm for tea.Often in winter we rode back in the dark with the oil lamps lit on the trap,for me Pure Magic!. All gone!. Now the Gabalfa Estate.

My Uncles,Dan and Jack later moved to Ely, one to work on Cardiff Transport the other i believe for the Brewery.Dan and Magaret Driscoll lived at Wilson Road near Saint Francis Church,they had a Daughter and a Son named Colin.Uncle Jack and his Wife lived in the Colin Way area near the brewery.

After they were married at Saint Peters in 1875 the Meads lived for a number of years at Maesglas cottages Radyr,finaly moving to Llandaff North before the start of the 1914-1918 War.The rest as they is another story. Sadly I have lost touch with my Driscoll relatives,any who read this please do get in touch.